Windows Live Messenger 9.0 beta program closing in 3 weeks

In an e-mail to its Windows Live Messenger testers, Microsoft has disclosed …

Microsoft sent an e-mail to Windows Live Messenger beta testers last night, announcing that the bug and suggestion forms for the Messenger 9.0 beta would be closing on June 6, 2008. Microsoft is asking testers to send in any last minute bugs or suggestions, as the team wants to review and respond to all of them before shutting down the system. "The newsgroup and Connect site will remain open after the bug and suggestion forms close so you can see our responses to your bugs and discuss them with other beta testers. This is a lengthy process, so we appreciate your patience as we respond to the remaining bugs and suggestions," the e-mail stated.

Testers have thus far sent in over 1000 bugs and suggestions, handled three different surveys, and posted nearly 5000 messages in the newsgroup. The software giant is closing off the beta as it believes it has gathered enough feedback from this program (and previous ones) and that the team is now ready to put it to work. The beta testing program will be officially closing on June 24, 2008. After this date, beta testers will still be able to use the 9.0 beta Messenger client but, since the Connect page will close down, the installer will no longer be available for download.

After thanking its testers once again, Microsoft finished off the e-mail by saying that there will be "another beta later this year that includes the changes we're working on now, and we hope you'll participate in that and continue to send us your thoughts!" Hopefully Microsoft will be able to satisfy all the frustrated Messenger 9.0 testers with the new beta build and the new beta program.